Tuesday, April 28, 2009

We had a baby shower for my little niece on Saturday. I made her a cute outfit using this tutorial. I love the ruffle pants! All my husband said was, "Why don't you make clothes for our own kids?" Good question. And that is something I need to remedy...Isn't our puppy the cutest? She wanted to be in the picture...

Saturday, April 18, 2009

The online quilt festival has been a humbling experience for me. Looking back at the quilts that I have actually finished, there aren't too many that I actually love. I have a couple good ones started and a few more in my head, but I've got some work to do. However, I do love this quilt festival. I am enjoying looking at every one's quilts...they are beautiful and oh, so inspiring.

But here is a quilt that I LOVE. It was a gift about a month ago for my daughter from one of my oldest friend's mom. She is a beautiful quilter. In fact, she is the one that inspired me to start quilting. I always loved visiting her sewing studio (right in the middle of her house) when I was a kid. I love that it is all solids. I love that it is wonky. I love the different sized squares and rectangles. This is where I want to get with my quilting. It is truly inspirational!

Friday, April 17, 2009

I've always wanted to enter a quilt show but I've never had the chance so I thought I should join a virtual one. Thank you to Amy for organizing this!

Here is my favourite (finished) quilt. I pieced the top for my mother-in-law one summer when I was home between school terms. Before kids. Whew, what I would do with that time now... This photo was taken when my daughter was 6 months old (she's almost 3 now...)

I was inspired by Bonnie's scrap quilts, especially her Blue Ridge Beauty. I love the scrappy nature of it but also the controlled palette of blue and beige. So I made my own. This quilt is important to be because it was my first attempt at a scrap quilt. Before this I had always chosen a pattern, then bought all the fabrics listed in the pattern. I wanted to make something that was less prescribed.I had just gotten married and I wanted to make something for my mother-in-law. She loves blue so I knew she would like it. Of course, life happens, and I didn't finish it until the next Christmas after my daughter was born. Oops. She tells me now that she uses it when my father-in-law is away or when she is sick because she can feel the love that was put into it.

Next year, I promise a much different quilt. I always searched for quilts/patterns/fabrics that were more me - more modern, more fun and I couldn't find them. But now that I have discovered quilt blogs (and online quilt shops), I know I have some beauties in me. Beauties that better reflect me. So next year, I promise to exhibit something more fun, more improvised, and more modern. But in the mean time, I still love this Buckeye Beauty!

Just a quick update on my Doll Quilt:I had a great time machine quilting swirls on my butterfly quilt. It is my first attempt at swirls and I am really happy with the way it turned out. As I read recently, it is imperfectly perfect! I am starting to love free-motion quilting. At first, I was so frustrated by the variation in my stitch length. But it is true - it does get easier with practice. I am also starting to see that with a high density of quilting it is impossible to see every stitch so mistakes get 'swallowed' up by the quilt. Gotta love that.

Now I just have to decide how to quilt the butterflies...any ideas?

Sorry these pictures are so dark. I took them last night when I was sewing - did I mention my sewing 'studio' is in the basement? I think I'll have to work on my lighting before I snap some more 'action' shots.

Oh, and here's a giveaway on the Farm Chicks Site. They are giving away 2 yards (yes, 2 yards...yay!) of the new Prairie Dust Fabric. I love a give-away (although I still haven't won anything (other than of course, getting selected to join Rachel's Bee Inspired Quilt Bee - thanks again Rachel, I'm loving it)) so go check it out! I love the aqua fabric. Good Luck

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

First, a DQS6 update. My little quilt is basted and ready for quilting. I am letting it sit a few days before I get the courage for that. I'm thinking maybe some swirls. I've never done swirls before but I think that it will really give the quilt some movement. Or maybe just loops. I want it to give the impression that the butterflies are flying...

Next, here is my first purple block for Section 5 of Jane's Rainbow Swap. I am well on my way to finishing up the other 8 blocks so hopefully they will be in the mail before Easter. And finally, it seems like I'm not actually getting anything finished these days...so I am so happy that Jacquie has started the Spring to Finish project. I am hoping to get the following things finished this spring:

Stacked Coin Pink Baby Quilt - finish stippling & bind

Wonky Log Cabins - make back, quilt & bind

Wedding quilt for my sister - backing, quilt & bind (I'm using a quilt top that I made almost 4 years ago, it is big, scrappy and I think it will be beautiful)

Hopefully Jacquie's project will give me the inspiration I need to actually finish a few things. And maybe then I can start two new projects that I've been collecting fabric for: a Amy Butler quilt for me and a Heather Ross quilt for my friend Jess!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

I finished my 9 yellow bear paw blocks for Section 1 of Jane's Rainbow Swap last night. Overall I'm pretty happy with them. You can see the fabric up close here. Sorry swappers, but not all of the points are going to work out perfectly, but it was the best I could do.